49 years of HM's rule: Transforming Oman

It's been 49 years since His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said ascended to the throne. Although many were too young to remember the glorious day in 1970, all agree to the fact that the country has undergone rapid transformation in this period.

Muscat Daily
spoke to a few senior citizens and residents to understand how Oman has transformed over the years and their views on the pace of the country's development.

Majid Said al Suleimany, 72, who has 40-year experience as HR manager, management consultant and advisor, praised the government for development work. 'The youth should know about the hardships that we faced in the past, so that they don't expect the government to do everything for them.

'The youth of Oman need to be more tolerant and patient. They should approach work with full focus and need to adopt and adjust to the tough competition in the market. They should be aware of the resources and choices available to us.'

Recalling life in 1972, just two years after the Renaissance, Suleimany said, 'In 1972, we were staying near the Kalbouh area in Muscat. We could not afford air conditioners and used to sleep on the roof at night.

'When we finally got one, the whole family use to sleep in the room which had air conditioner. Now, we can afford to live in comfort. We are thankful to His Majesty the Sultan for being the pillar of our country's development.'

Suleimany commended the role of expatriates in Oman's development saying that Omani youth can learn a lot from them.

Although most of the expatriates of the early days following the Renaissance are no longer here, those few who stayed back feel that the country has developed a lot under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan.

Dr Venkat Swami, 70, said he is grateful to be still in Oman. 'His Majesty the Sultan heads a country which respects all religions. I have trained more than 5,000 Omanis in accounting, management and costing and other areas. All my students are well placed in their careers. 'During my 37 years in this peaceful country, I have seen rapid development in different areas. Life has very much changed for the better if you look at infrastructure, education, healthcare and other areas.'

For some, the country's rapid development is like realising your dreams coming true. 'Life in Oman in the 1950s was very hard. Everything was so difficult, be it transportation, healthcare, getting water or electricity. Due to the poor infrastructure, I had to board a dhow to travel to East Africa along with my parents and my two brothers,' said Saada al Najadi, 73, a native of Sur.

Saada said that Oman started developing only in the seventies. 'Now there is no better place than Oman if you look at the quality of living, education, healthcare services, roadworks among others. I remember travelling from Sur to Izz (somewhere in Sharqiyah) on a donkey. On our way, we ran out of water but today most of the people have a vehicle and most houses have water supply.' Obaid al Khalidi, 60, a retired government employee, hailed transport facilities and air connectivity between Oman and other countries. 'We can fly to any destination in just a couple of hours.

'Though the Indian Ocean contributed to the growth of civilisations by being a trading channel, it was by no means easy. The hardships while sailing were just too much to bear. But now, we just fly and reach any destination within hours.'

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